The Newark Water Group, a lobby of citizen activists, collected enough valid signatures to force the city council to vote on an ordinance that would put the creation of a municipal utilities authority in the hands of voters.

Following its Sept. 6 meeting, after a public hearing, the council will vote on whether to pass the ordinance or quash it, according to a letter issued Tuesday by City Clerk Robert Marasco.

Depending on that vote, the future of Newark’s embattled water infrastructure could be in the hands of voters.

"The ordinance reforms the water system to make it more transparent," said water group member Dan O’Flaherty. "It says you can’t do an MUA without a referendum. You can’t guarantee debt of an outside water sewer agency."

The ordinance also abolishes the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. — the nonprofit that currently runs the city’s water system — and brings the entire water department under city control.

The council has 20 days from Sept. 6 to approve or quash the ordinance. If they vote it down, then the ordinance itself goes before voters.

Mayor Cory Booker initially proposed the authority, but has appeared to back off in recent weeks, saying he’s willing to accept any resolution that accomplishes three goals: addressing the $547 million in repairs necessary to avoid a systemwide collapse, creating transparency and avoiding privatization, and helping shore up the city’s finances.